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The soccer merry-go-round: Özil, Bale and other transfers

Transfer frenzy: Shortly before the summer transfer window closed on September 2, a couple of last-minute moves grabbed the headlines. We look at the latest string of players' moves worth tens of millions of euros.

Mesut Özil

Hours before the summer transfer window closed on Monday night, Arsenal shattered their transfer record by signing Turkish-German attacking midfielder Mesut Özil from Real Madrid. The deal was reportedly worth $66 million (50 million euros). Özil joins fellow German national team members Lukas Podolski and Per Mertesacker at the North London club.

Gareth Bale

After months of speculation, Real Madrid have dug deep to buy Welsh winger Gareth Bale from the other North London Premier League club, Tottenham Hotspur. The 24-year-old Bale signed a six-year deal with Madrid, who reportedly paid a world record 100 million euros ($132 million) for him.

Kevin-Prince Boateng

Kevin-Prince Boateng left AC Milan to join Schalke on a three-year deal, worth 12 million euros ($15.9m). The 26-year-old half-brother of Bayern and Germany defender Jerome Boateng previously played with Hertha Berlin, Tottenham Hotspur, Portsmouth and Schalke's rivals Borussia Dortmund. The Ghanaian national has a bad boy image since a nasty tackle that effectively ended Michael Ballack's career.

Kaka

The Brazilian attacking midfielder Kaka has left Real Madrid to return to Italian Serie A club AC Milan on a free transfer. He had played there from 2003-2009, before moving to Madrid for 65 million euros ($92 million). The 31-year-old Kaka is earmarked to fill the gap left by Kevin-Prince Boateng.

Marko Arnautovic

The Austria forward left Bundesliga club Werder Bremen for Premier League side Stoke City. Arnautovic’s previous stops were Twente in the Netherlands and Inter Milan (on loan 2009-2010). He has been repeatedly suspended for misbehavior. Famous quote: He said one of his favorite qualities in women was silicon-enhanced breasts.

Marouane Fellaini

Waiting until the very last minute, Manchester United signed Belgium midfielder Marouane Fellaini from Everton for 27.5 million pounds ($43 million, 32.6 million euros). He joins his former boss at Everton, David Moyes, who replaced legendary manager Alex Ferguson at United prior to the start of this season.

Mesut Özil

Hours before the summer transfer window closed on Monday night, Arsenal shattered their transfer record by signing Turkish-German attacking midfielder Mesut Özil from Real Madrid. The deal was reportedly worth $66 million (50 million euros). Özil joins fellow German national team members Lukas Podolski and Per Mertesacker at the North London club.

Gareth Bale

After months of speculation, Real Madrid have dug deep to buy Welsh winger Gareth Bale from the other North London Premier League club, Tottenham Hotspur. The 24-year-old Bale signed a six-year deal with Madrid, who reportedly paid a world record 100 million euros ($132 million) for him.

Kevin-Prince Boateng

Kevin-Prince Boateng left AC Milan to join Schalke on a three-year deal, worth 12 million euros ($15.9m). The 26-year-old half-brother of Bayern and Germany defender Jerome Boateng previously played with Hertha Berlin, Tottenham Hotspur, Portsmouth and Schalke's rivals Borussia Dortmund. The Ghanaian national has a bad boy image since a nasty tackle that effectively ended Michael Ballack's career.

Kaka

The Brazilian attacking midfielder Kaka has left Real Madrid to return to Italian Serie A club AC Milan on a free transfer. He had played there from 2003-2009, before moving to Madrid for 65 million euros ($92 million). The 31-year-old Kaka is earmarked to fill the gap left by Kevin-Prince Boateng.

Marko Arnautovic

The Austria forward left Bundesliga club Werder Bremen for Premier League side Stoke City. Arnautovic’s previous stops were Twente in the Netherlands and Inter Milan (on loan 2009-2010). He has been repeatedly suspended for misbehavior. Famous quote: He said one of his favorite qualities in women was silicon-enhanced breasts.

Marouane Fellaini

Waiting until the very last minute, Manchester United signed Belgium midfielder Marouane Fellaini from Everton for 27.5 million pounds ($43 million, 32.6 million euros). He joins his former boss at Everton, David Moyes, who replaced legendary manager Alex Ferguson at United prior to the start of this season.